The pre-mixed joint compound that we use, the kind that comes in a plastic tub, will only harden as it dries. I did apply it with a fan brush, as my initial batch was about the consistency of pancake batter. . Tags: acrylic gesso, acrylic primer, Art materials, homemade gesso, how to, how to make gesso, How To's, mixed media, Painting, painting equipment, painting on canvas, Painting Techniques, pigments, supplies, tutorial. It will also add strength to the thin plaster cloth shell. Having a blast but I like to know the whys of stuff I do. I love your cooked paste by the way. First, mix the cornstarch and baking soda together, breaking up any lumps in the mixture. I like to make my own, because of affordability, and I get to control the thickness. Plaster will crack and fall off if you pile it onto masonite, or hardboard. I kitbashed it by cutting off the tabs for the slots and glueing it together before covering it with my own homemade gesso. I don’t know if the commercially produced ones do, who knows what’s in them… But they are just way too expensive for the amounts that most people would use, in my opinion anyway. I understood that the result is a pleasant material to work with and also does its sealing work well. I switched to using acrylic gel as a glue, and the problem was solved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Pour the warm water in a suitable bowl. I haven’t tried the powdered version. I’m going to give it go, as gesso is so expensive to buy. If you’d like to do an experiment, go ahead and add water to the powdered joint compound first. Don't subscribe I also, sometimes use a clear vanish or medium, on to top of my paintings to seal. I fly by the seat of my pants and generally use what I have on hand. That is possible, although I’ve tried the Elmer’s wood glue for other projects that included joint compound in the recipe, and it didn’t work very well. All about gesso - Mixed Media Art Tutorial - Duration: 3:35. Could you make it into a thick paste so you could then funnel it from a cone on to a flat surface for 3 D art projects ? Hi Demetria, Yes, I do use Gesso to prime all my canvas’s. the best Note: Drywall joint compound is created for the construction industry and is not edible! Ive never used it myself. ( I used some acrylic powder paint I had and made it up with water) You can use any kind of acrylic paint or colour . (Haven’t tried it, though, so I could be wrong). Book page wet and dry. I would like to know the whys of it all before I make my gesso. Would this gesso work for my project . I use it with both oil and acrylic paints. I am a all the round craftswoman and I had been painting Day of the Dead masks. Note that images greater than 250KB will not be uploaded. It’s gritty, chalky and can be applied to artwork to give a translucent or opaque look. I did not even get a fourth of it covered. Gesso was traditionally used as a base for tempera and was a favorite of Renaissance panel painters. Personally, I use Apoxy Sculpt or some other epoxy clay for outdoor sculptures, because it’s completely waterproof. You can see someone making this gesso here. Would you recommend adding water to the powder first to make a paste, then adding glue? I want to make some outside animal animals to put in my yard, like topiaries. That’s your only measurement- ‘how you need it to be’ . Walmart … This glue will be used to prime your panel. To make it nice and white, add 1 part powdered titanium or zinc white pigment. I don’t know if there is difference between pva and pvca, and it is ok to use pvca in gesso making? Hi Barbara.I’m glad you found us. The calcium in the joint compound dries out the skin. But I do have Ceramic Plaster. I wanted a side-by-side comparison so I tried my homemade gesso along with store-bought gesso on two surfaces: a kid’s book I was converting into an art journal and a piece of cardboard. I love Gesso paint and use heaps of it in my work. About 15 years ago I bought a dollshouse of the type made of thin ply wood which slotted together. Debbie Strahm. Add the plaster to the hot water and stir ( Safety purposes: always add the plaster powder to the liquid, not liquid to plaster, as it will blow up into your face and always wear a dust mask). I got some acrylic paint, but i didnt know you had to prime the plaster of paris. I’ve used this for prop making, but I originally needed it for an oil painting project. Hi Susan. And remember that you don’t want to buy the DAP brand, because it doesn’t work. Earth Pigments – This is a classical recipes … Commercial Encaustic Gesso is now available at art supply stores, but I find that making my own fulfills my need to help sustain mother earth.. Use Epoxy To Coat Existing Countertops To Make Them Look Like Real Stone Step By Step Explained - … The original paper mache clay is very strong – much stronger than plain drywall compound. It gives you a nice white ground for painting. Use the patterns to create memorable gifts, or to bring a little bit of Africa to your own home If you apply the gesso too thickly, it may crack as it dries – but you can fix that with a bit more gesso, or by using a damp sponge to smooth things over. The gesso is a variation of the fast-setting paste that I use for my masks. I am curious what makes DAP joint compound not a good choice to make gesso with. And some versions harden very fast because they contain plaster. For what it’s worth…, Thanks for the further information Donald. , Hi Loren, Thank you for the info. I allowed them 24 hours to dry completely before attempting to smooth their surface with the gesso recipe. Or does it crack ? A lot of the people who visit the Daily Sculptors page every day have used the air dry clay recipe more often than I have. The main interest in wanting to know this is that he died at a fairly early age of liver cancer. African Animals Pattern Set.Save $10 when you buy this three-pattern set. Since writing this recipe in 2014, Ive been using this homemade Gesso recipe, for 14 years now and haven’t had an issue, with ageing, layers coming apart, seepage, changes in colour etc. DIY Gesso. Since there’s no real recipe, it could be the proportions of glue and drywall joint compound that cause the cracking. While looking I have seen some sites that say that pva glue makes a painting or other artwork non archival. Are you a sculptor? 15% OFF PATTERN ORDERS OF $30 OR MORE – USE CODE: 15%OffOver30. When adding more than 1 coat you can sand in- between to give a really smooth surface for detailed work . If saved, this image will not display with your comment. But I do think I may have been heavy handed with the initial application. This mud can actually fire while submerged in water so nothing will slow it from hardening. Or would you simply mix glue into the drywall powder? Finally, add in the same quantity of paint (usually white, but whatever colour you like) and mix together well. But their drywall joint compound contains an ingredient that, when mixed with Elmer’s glue, turns the mixture into Flubber. Stir before using - it will settle (like normal Gesso). It’s also important to wear a mask if you sand your paper mache after it dries, because the calcium carbonate in the joint compound is mined in areas that also contain silica, and fine silica dust is not good for your lungs. Plaster of Paris is entirely different. I’ve had other people tell me about the cracking, but I haven’t been able to duplicate it. I actually use the dry joint compound for many purposes, including paper maché, and haven’t had any issues with it whatsoever. Does it harden well and last long ? This site is owned and operated by Jonni Good. I am working on 14 and coming close to the gesso stage. Hi Stix. If you do any experimenting with the proportions, I hope you’ll share what you discover. Also for the amount I need I think it would be cheaper to make my own gesso. I tried it again with the gesso recipe, and it didn’t work for that, either. This recipe uses materials that are not readily available, and they can be rather expensive, but this was the first gesso recipe I used, and it does work really well. Pinging is currently not allowed. No, but I think Dan Reeder uses Elmer’s Glue-All mixed with water. on any of my artworks. So, if your not using it straight away, I would only make it in small amounts. I used Elmer’s wood glue and not the white “glue all.” So, that might have played a role as well. on Thursday, January 16th, 2014 at 12:25 am and is filed under Tutorial. It also sticks really hard, and it would be very difficult to remove. Recipe 1 cup PVA Glue 14 Cup water 4 teaspoons of Powdered Marble or Marble Dust Mix together the glue and water first. Ive never heard of ceramic plaster… I would try it on a sample canvas first and would love to hear how you go if you try it. Hi pearl, I work in the drywall industry and I do not reccommend using the dry powder joint compound. Did you use this link? I was looking for a homemade gesso and came across your recipe. Thanks for answering in advance my innumerable questions. on any of my artworks. This entry was posted All the commercial gesso I have purchased is “acrylic gesso”, which is formulated with acrylic resin and not PVA glue. Thanks. Can you recommend proportions for using drywall powder, as opposed to the readymade paste? I use it with both oil and acrylic paints. I want to try your recipe for gesso, but I wonder if i can use a mixture of flour and salt instead of plaster. Combine 2 parts PVA glue, 4 parts water, 8 parts calcium carbonate (marble dust), and 1 part titanium or zinc white pigment, by volume. I then used “great stuff” expanding foam inside to give them some stability. And if you go to the link in this comment and still don’t see the form, please let me know that, too. Homemade Gesso Recipe : Gesso is a paintable compound used to prime surfaces, expecially canvasses, prior to painting. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that helps sites like mine earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Since writing this recipe in 2014, Ive been using this homemade Gesso recipe, for 14 years now and haven’t had an issue, with ageing, layers coming apart, seepage, changes in colour etc. This is a very simple mixture, but it can make a big difference when you’re making a paper mache sculpture. So you could actually make your own Gesso or you could use something very similar to prime the … Best Alternative for Gesso and How to Make Your Own Gesso Read More » You are attempting to upload a file that's too large. Also, you can sand the gesso if you want the surface of your sculpture to be really smooth, but if you do sand it, be sure to wear a mask. Just mix up what you need for the day or the week! Ceramic plaster is similar to Plaster of Paris in a lot of ways, but slower setting and the end result isn’t as fragile as Plaster of Paris. Hope this helps. Update 2018! Using Homemade Gesso. A further note, though this topic is a few years old now: I once used PVA glue to adhere canvas or muslin to hardboard in making my own panels for painting. “Some” Drywall Joint Compound (if you’re not sure what that is. To some, this would not be a catostrophic event, while others (like myself) starts to freak out and want to go buy a five gallon pail of it. They were fairly thin, maybe 2 layers of plaster cloth. 2:29. after creating your painting we put out from the frame for sale or for any other reason..does it effect on the painting if we rolled it? By the way, I think you are amazing and love your web site. The link takes me to a page that describes the book, but there’s no subscribe form to fill out or link to click for download. I didn’t know that…As I only use gesso for painting, priming a canvas, paper etc. I haven’t personally tried them because I have a massive container of gesso left over from before I discovered these recipes, but when I run out, they are definitely going to be used. That being said, it’s a very versatile recipe and can be easily changed up to meet your needs. Since writing this recipe in 2014, Ive been using this homemade Gesso recipe, for 14 years now and haven’t had an issue, with ageing, layers coming apart, seepage, changes in colour etc. I paint with acrylic and i use gesso to seal the canvas. © 2014 – 2018, Jenny Davis. I have questions about glue that use in the gesso making, I just bought a bottle glue in art store, it say pvca on the bottle. Dec 10, 2018 - Homemade Gesso Recipe : Gesso is a paintable compound used to prime surfaces, expecially canvasses, prior to painting. Do you want the material to remain on the skeleton after you’ve finished the woodwork? Gesso is probably one of the best and most widely used primers for Acrylic paint. Hi there, I just wanted to ask, how long will this store for? I would love for you to add your gesso recipe here for us. If so, a ratio would help a great deal. It’s easier to spread than I thought it would be, and it’s strong! Give it a try – but you might find that an acrylic gesso will work better for your journal. Update 2018! This is an easy, inexpensive, homemade gesso recipe. If you're mixing the gesso in a container, use a spoon or stirring rod to thoroughly combine the materials. The recipe below makes 2 litres of Gesso paint, ( If not using straight away, this Gesso will last approx. Add the powdered marble and mix well link to By the way, several years ago I tried making paper mache clay using the DAP brand joint compound, and it turned into little balls of rubber. Will that work? Since I’m not that serious about getting anything perfectly smooth, the kitchen sponge works just fine for me. Heads up! I never sand, just because I don’t like the dust flying around the house. Hi Angela, Good question…Ordinary PVA is not archival but, you can buy archival PVA glue. Try again with a layer that’s about as thick as you would normally use when painting. Oct 1, 2019 - Homemade Gesso Recipe : Gesso is a paintable compound used to prime surfaces, expecially canvasses, prior to painting. Im making a dinosaur skeleton out of wood and I want to use a homade way to fill around the wood to sand it until I have the desired shape of the bone.I have drywall compound but I want it to be stronger as it dries.What can I add to the compound.Any thoughts? If not, could you send me the link that didn’t work so I can fix it? I look forward to seeing your new creations. Homemade Gesso Recipe. Yes, it can be very expensive and this recipe makes quite a lot:). Its great to know homemade gesso lasts that long and will try adding pollyfila too, Great idea! However, some people have been able to keep their sculptures “alive” for at least a year using Flex Seal. Home-Made Gesso Recipe: “Some” Elmer’s Glue-All (PVA glue) “Some” Drywall Joint Compound (if you’re not sure what that is, watch this video to see how it’s used in home remodeling projects.) Modeling paste, also known as molding paste, is a thick material used to create textures on paintings, repair frames or furniture or create small three-dimensional decorative details or sculptures. Another coat quite often covers the cracks. Keep in mind If stored longer than a year it can start to spoil and stink. Hi Jonni, Homemade Gesso: WELCOMEHello fellow artists! You can get a small container of drywall joint compound in the paint department at Walmart – most places only sell it by the gallon. Use a plastic bag or pastry piping bags, and make the paste to the texture you need it to be. Site built on GP Premium and Elementor Pro – Hosted by SiteGround, Privacy Policy – Cookie Policy – Shipping and Terms of Service. Because paint wasn’t my dominate medium I never learned the ins and outs of preserving canvas. do you have any idea? When we used your homemade gesso recipe, upon drying the gesso began to crack. Use the patterns to create memorable gifts, or to bring a little bit of Africa to your own home. Have fun! For me, this recipe is just as good as, the store bought and if you use archival PVA/Elmers glue, it will make it all the more stable, for longevity. Cannot wait to try it on my paper mache vase… however can I use the dry joint compound instead of it being already mixed.. cheaper when it comes dry… Otherwise would the dry compound dry faster or do you add water to get the consistency you want for gesso. It’s what we call hot mud and will fire very fast, they actually make it by the min, 90 min 40 min or 20 min mud. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Mar 29, 2015 - There are so many DIY crafts online these days (thanks pinterest!) I haven’t tried it myself but…I’m sure ceramic plaster would work. Tag: homemade gesso Posted on by — Leave a comment DIY Gesso. It's really easy to make, dirt cheap and most likely just using ingredients you have at home anyway. I have just one question. It gives tooth and flexibility to the surface, allowing the paint to adhere to smooth surface easily. Was really curious to know weather ceramic plaster worked? You can skip to the end and leave a response. I love your vidios!! That’s right — there’s no specific amount of either ingredient in this “recipe.” In fact, I just pour some glue and plop some joint compound into a bowl and start mixing. However, it isn’t flexible, so it might crack when you turn the pages. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. However if anybody is wanting to make something like a collograph plate, or something thicker in application than priming a canvas, ALWAYS use marble dust, and nothing else. You are attempting to upload an invalid image. It has been awhile and I hope all is well. Hi Nasreen, About 4 weeks. Any material made with paper will eventually get wet outside, even with the best coating. Traditional Gesso is used to prime boards prior to starting your Encaustic artwork piece. I will share with you my homemade "gesso" recipe that I utilize in many projects including art journaling and home decor projects. But what happens to it after a year, for example? Do you know if this is correct or not? I just looked at the page and I can see the subscribe form. It’s often used for things like making statues, making moulds for ceramics, various casting things. Do not use this gesso if you’re working with small children who may put the gesso or the joint compound in their mouths, or if you’re making a toy for a baby. Gesso is used for many things such as a primer for canvas or on paper to give a good base for painting, drawing or mixed media work. Items you will need to scrounge… Applied to wood, it hardens to a brilliant white and can be used a primer or sculpting material. I also seal my papers with it when, making books, sewing on paper, paper for collage, painting with paint, inks etc. Ultimate Paper Mache 49,029 views. Hi Debbie. Homemade Gesso! And it looks like he used a great number of different sculptural media in addition to paper mache, so it seems impossible to know which one (if any) led to his illness. Replies to my comments Home made Gesso Recipe - Glue and Joint Compound - Duration: 2:29. It is important to understand that the acrylic gesso you find in art supply shops and on-line is not suitable for Encaustics. This will give me an an opportunity to try your paper mache clay recipe for the first time. Gesso is a powder made from calcium carbonate and glue. If you use more joint compound and make it thicker, you can use an old brush or sharp tool and create fur and other interesting textures. Hi Marian, Thanks heaps for your feedback and sharing your results about homemade gesso. I’ll have to experiment with it too . Hope this helps anyone with misgivings about the sustainability of homemade gesso. (similar to Plaster of Paris, but more specialised ;>), And yeah, it’d probably work. Thanks, Lesley. Please try a smaller file smaller than 250KB. It gives tooth and flexibility to the surface, allowing the paint to adhere to smooth surface easily. This mixture dries very hard, but sands easily. Homemade Gesso: 1 part white glue - 2-3 parts water (less if glue is cheap) 6 parts baby powder. Aconteceu isto comigo usei o gesso no papel e rachou tudo só gates tempo e dinheiro, prefiro a massa corrida, para dar forma suáveis. Can I please share this in my post ? Thank you, Amon, for all the kind words. It’s also very expensive so I decided to make my own. I use it with oil paintings and acrylic artworks. That’s great to know, sounds like its pretty tough. Hi Ofira, Dec 30, 2015 - Very rarely do I follow the "rules" of the art/craft world. The dust is really fine, and it contains silica, which you don’t want in your lungs. I also seal my papers with it when making books, sewing paper for collage, painting with paint, inks etc. My Homemade GESSO Recipe Hi everyone, and a huge hello to my new Subscriber's. Just a few homemade Gesso Recipes that I have tried and tested. When you imply that sculptors don’t take health precautions, are you speaking from personal experience? Homemade Gesso, the good and the bad plus Link Love Friday A couple of weeks ago I started to run out of gesso. Heads up! Acrylic paint doesn’t need to be sealed, but sometimes it will bring out the colours more. The gesso is translucent with the gritty bits I like. This mixture can also be used as paste with blue shop towels. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I got the stuff today so will try it very soon , thank you , I’ll gather up the ingredients and follow your advice (Not that sculptors take health precautions). HOMEMADE GESSO RECIPE AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Day One: Put ½ ounce of rabbit skin glue and 8 ounces (1 cup) water in the upper pot of a double boiler and stir. I have a surplus of about 30 so decided to paper mache them into different masks. One other piece of information that might have influenced the outcome. From what I’ve I learned, I assume that a high quality varnish will preserve my acrylic paintings on canvas prepared with this homemade gesso? As your friend says, it hardens quickly when mixed with water. Since writing this recipe in 2014, Ive been using this homemade Gesso recipe, for 14 years now and haven’t had an issue, with ageing, layers coming apart, seepage, changes in colour etc. It’s great when I’m at work and need my mud to dry fast and extremely hard but when I’m sculpting I like to take my time, and I like to be in control of my clay or gesso not the other way around. I can’t download your “5 Best Recipes for Paper Mache” book. If you have any questions or need some advice after you try it, that would be the best spot to leave a comment. Should you use it all up in one go or will it keep? I’ve bookmarked the page! Cheers Jenny, Thank you for this. DIY. I used emulsion paint, pva glue and a little polyfilla! Hi Nirmal. Rolling up acrylic or oil paintings wont effect them as long as, your paintings are all thoroughly dry. Thank you for the post! Homemade Gesso! What is gesso used for in a paper mache project? I think it would crack – and the combination of glue and joint compound isn’t very thick. I have everything needed but Plaster of Paris. Click Here to Learn More... African Animals Pattern Set.Save $10 when you buy this three-pattern set. If you try it, please let us know if it works. As for Mr. West’s paper mache formulas, his work looks quite large, so he probably just used flour and water paste. And the label clearly states that it shouldn’t be sanded without a mask. I was wondering if you if you could use ceramic plaster instead of Plaster of Paris? 4-6 weeks), 1 cup Plaster of Paris or fine white plaster powder, 1 cup of PVA or white glue (archival if available), To make the plaster mix. I would try the flour and salt and just experiment. It gives tooth and flexibility to the surface, allowing the paint to adhere to smooth surface easily. Just google “Archival PVA Glue” for stockists. Interesting…. I made an antler mount out of plaster of paris and wanted to paint it. Hi – I’m Jonni Good. My version is more gritty, than store bought, but if you sandpaper in between coats, I find it’s not an issue. I want to make my own gesso because I ran out of the amount I had while putting it on a canvas I am working on. DAP is a ‘good’ brand, and that’s probably why they’re taking over most of the US market. The ones available to me are fast-setting, and it’s possible that it would make the paper mache clay or gesso get hard too quickly. Put another 1 ounce of glue and 16 ounces … I have never tried the dried version of drywall joint compound in my recipes. Thanks for the contact. You absolutely can do that. Is this simply because we applied it in too thick of a layer? I am making Indian ones, monsters, a bear and some old people. There’s a lot of good recipes out there for this one. However, the PVA glue partially “reactivates” — softens — when wetted, so when painted with acrylic paint, the fabric would often blister up from the hardboard where spots of PVA glue softened and released. For a thicker home-made gesso, you can use calcium carbonate (powdered marble) and white glue. I also use store bought gesso too, if I’ve run out and for convenience. You can add a dab of white acrylic paint if you want the gesso to be more opaque, to cover the printing on newspaper, for instance. Bloknote.nl 77,107 views. Good luck with it! Use any joint compound except Dap brand, which doesn’t work. You can also do several layers of gesso to give a more opaque appearance. Welcome – and have fun! And sure enough, I did. Includes Jonni’s famous Paper Mache Clay recipe, and tips on choosing the right recipe for your next project. I’m a sculptor, a grandma, an online art teacher, and the inventor of the famous paper mache clay recipe. Homemade Clear Gesso. How to make Clear Gesso/ DIY/ Homemade Clear Gesso. Hi Jonni your gesso recipe is absolutely great! Gesso Recipes 1. If you want very white gesso, try adding 2 or 3 times as much white acrylic paint. Also is the DAP plaster of paris the same, not a good brand. Hello, Ceramic Artist Makes a Bear With Paper Mache Clay. Do you have a recipe for fabric mache glue? A thick layer will crack, though, because the joint compound shrinks as it dries. You can also subscribe without commenting. Your site and videos provide such a wealth of information. He’s the guy to ask, because he always uses cloth mache over his dragons. All Ive been using this recipe for 14 years now and have had no issues with ageing , seepage. How to make Clear Gesso. Add in the same quantity of talcum powder, mix thoroughly. Modeling paste is available in craft stores and comes in different consistencies including regular, light … https://kitschmekate.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/a-recipe-for-homemade-gesso If a kitchen sponge doesn’t seem to be working, you can use one of those sanding sponges that you buy in the hardware store. Link to Pink Poodle Craft Video https: ... Art Journal Pages Art Journaling Gesso Art Homemade Crafts Diy Crafts Homemade Things Arts And Crafts Paper Crafts Stencil. Yes, if you keep it covered so air can’t get in, it will last a very long time. 3 It’s been my experience that sculptors seem to perish of either lung disease or organ cancer, which may indicate bad stuff is either being breathed or absorbed into the skin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. I used the gesso mixture as paste with shop towels for the first time when I made the green witch mask for Halloween, and I was quite impressed with it. Maybe just leave out the 3/4 cup of flour that we usually add after everything else has been mixed in. I will keep you posted on how it all turns out. All rights reserved. (I did buy Plaster of Paris after learning about this type of recipe, however I am not familiar with it, I am learning). Mix until constancy is like a pancake batter. Add in the same quantity of white glue, mix thoroughly. If you like getting your hands in your gesso, gloves would be a good idea. on any of my artworks. Though it might take longer to dry on canvas as in previous answers:), I found this very effective as a sandable/ textured finish over paper mâché. The result is still solid, no sign of deterioration at all. Also, if they use similar ingredients to the homemade ones then why are they so expensive? Use any brand of drywall joint compound except DAP. I want to make some for art journal pages. . 2 Stir gently and let stand to allow the pigment to dissolve and the air bubbles to dissipate. For a thicker "texture paste", add less water. It’s probably boron, which reduces fire danger and eliminates mold.